Cop Dressed as ‘Grinch’ Has a Stinky Surprise for Holiday Speeders

Seems like the perfect set-up for a dumb joke: A traffic cop dressed up like The Grinch. But it's not a joke at all -- just ask Lou Caputo, the Florida Keys Sheriff's Office deputy who dons a Grinch costume while on duty patrolling potential speeders. I know what you're probably thinking: Jeez, isn't that kind of redundant? Well, not exactly. Because Caputo doesn't just dress up like the infamous Christmas thief to be extra mean. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Caputo knows how tight money can get for folks around the holidays. So instead of slapping speeders with pricey moving violation tickets, he hands out ... onions. Granted, the produce bin option is only available to drivers who slightly violate the speed limit (no more than 5-mph over the limit), but still. What a great way to spread the holiday spirit! If I got pulled over by the Grinch and he gave me an onion instead of a fine, I'd be way more likely to stick to the speed limit going forward. Just because I'd feel like, Hey, that Grinch cop is good people. He made me laugh.

Besides, drivers who have a serious issue with onions can choose to go the traditional ticket route. (One can only assume said drivers have garlic in their souls.)